Monday, 30 May 2011

I'm off enjoying a long weekend here in London, so I wanted to leave you with this oh so inspiring event decor. The romantic simplicity of the decorative accessories and the masculine black accents marry together to produce a dramatic and show-stopping space. Anyone up for a quick cocktail here before we head back to work tomorrow?! Hope you're having a lovely weekend.

Saturday, 28 May 2011

I guess it's because I grew up in a cottage in the countryside, but I've always had an appreciation for country spaces. This farmhouse bathroom is no exception; I adore the charming features and cosy, rustic elements. The wire basket packed full of fluffy white towels, the industrial pendant duo and a hint of colour and pattern in the textiles make for a stylish yet welcoming space. A leisurely Saturday morning of pampering in here would be such a treat! Have a lovely weekend, folks. If you're in London, do head down to Westfield for the Dulux Let's Colour event as there are great roomsets with fun ideas for introducing colour into your home.

Friday, 27 May 2011

Elle Decor | Photography by William Abranowicz | Produced by Anita Sarsidi

My heart skipped a beat when I first saw the cover of the latest Elle Decor. Bright, airy and oozing a casual summer vibe, the cover shot told me all I needed to know - I was gonna love this issue. I've shared with you my favourite home tour, a loft space in Tribeca, NYC, which is flooded with natural light. Architect Lee Mindel was inspired by 'the simplicity and light of a Scandinavian schoolroom' and so created a similar backdrop for the artful life of Winsome Brown and Claude Arpels who live there. I love how the couple have created a stylish, non-pretentious and colourful family home. What do you like about this loft space?

Thursday, 26 May 2011

I remember how much I liked the living room (1) when Livingetc featured it on their cover for the October issue last year. This week I had a hankering for some stripe therapy and this space totally did the trick. I love how the graphic stripe has been teamed with the romantic floral paper in the alcoves. The raspberry punnets (2) have always been a favourite for me, but this charming rustic kitchen has me daydreaming of summer holidays, doors wide open and a cool breeze blowing through the house. Bliss! as for the combination of a bright yellow chair and fairy lights (3) casually drapped over a fireplace? This is what I like to call instant interiors happiness! What is inspiring you today?

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Last week London's Covent Garden played host to a temporary beach house that was Tommy Hilfiger's home from home for a week. Complete with garden and a healthy dose of UK sunshine, it really did feel like a mini slice of East Coast Hamptons chic (well, if you looked past the hoards to tourists in the surrounding area!). The interior mirrored the preppy nature of the brand's apparel range: Bright primary coloured hues dominated the whitewashed beach hut interior, whilst coloured Tolix chairs doubled as display stands for books, accessories and stationery. What catches your eye? My favourite design elements included the blue and white awnings and the quirky coloured ducks. Tommy's pop up beach house will be travelling to Stockholm, LA, Milan, Madrid, Sylt and Knokke. Be sure to check it out if you can!

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Given Sibella Court worked in New York City for ten years as an interior stylist for leading American magazines and brand, it is no surprise that her second book, A Stylist's Guide to NYC, is a visual treat. As well as featuring her own photography, the book shares Sibella's favourite spots in the city, told through a series of walks and journeys across NYC that focus on 'loops' of interest, such as 'Jewellery and Hardware', 'Haberdashers and Handmade' and 'Furniture and Interiors'. There's also a handy pull-out map of Manhattan, which is accompanied by lists of recommended stores, galleries and markets to visit. Next time I am lucky enough to visit this wonderful city, I'll be taking A Stylist's Guide to NYC with me to direct me towards the intriguing and inspiring places she has highlighted within the book's beautifully designed pages. Have you read the book, or used it on a recent trip to the city? What did you think of it?

For my latest Rue magazine column I styled a story about quirky ways to plant this spring. From a fun addition to your kitchen windowsill to a romantic idea for a party centrepiece, I was keen to demonstrate simple, yet striking ways to display plants. I really enjoyed the shoot and still smile everytime I see that delightful teapot! You can read my column and see the shoot in full here. Also, huge thanks to the very lovely James who I worked with on the shoot. Check out his portfolio - you won't be disappointed!

Monday, 23 May 2011

1. A leisurely walk along the Southbank on Sunday morning.2. This charming flower cart in Chelsea.3. The Saturday afternoon flower demonstration at Anthropologie - how gorgeous is that bouquet?!4. The striped awning on the Nigel Hall store in Covent Garden caught my eye.5. Colour inspiration courtesy of the visual merchandising teams in Anthropologie.6. On the way to my friend Rachie's 30th birthday party and engagement celebration.7. Literally head over heels in love with this jug.8. Receiving postcards from faraway friends (especially when they have a Christmas stamp in May!).9. Blue and white stripe shoes.10. Olives before dinner on Sunday evening.

Saturday, 21 May 2011

Talk about a knock out space, hey! I've long been a fan of navy and sunflower yellow as a colour combo, but this living room takes it to the next level. Maybe it's because I've just painted a wall in the same hue in preparation for my gallery wall, either way I really like how the simple colour combination is broken up through the introduction of patterns in the wallpaper and rug. I'd very much like to kick off my Converse, jump onto this cute little two-seater and hamper down for a movie night. Thanks for your company this week, folks; I hope you have something super fun planned for the weekend, or at least a little you time?

Friday, 20 May 2011

I don't think I'll ever tire of that Friday feeling, will you? This week I've felt particularly inspired by black walls, especially this bedroom with its circus-themed typography that makes a quirky and imaginative statement on the feature wall. Those who have been reading for a while will know how much I adore fresh blooms, so no surprise that this delightful florist's space caught my eye. Finally, a colourful little reading nook is a must for any home! What has inspired you today?

Thursday, 19 May 2011

We've reached Thursday so we deserve a little break, right?! Let's dive into the May issue of Country Living as it's full of bargain ideas for the home. The issue, aptly titled 'The Bargain Issue', turned out to be quite a gem amongst the plentiful spring offerings from the major mags; packed full of easy to achieve ideas (they actually are easy, too!) and money saving tips from professionals, it more than covers the outlay of buying a copy. There's 134 fantastic finds for under $100, a room update for $48 and the home tour featured on the cover is a true delight - isn't that gallery wall of maps fantastic? Another favourite tear was the Pottery Barn Teen lamp, which has been teamed with old book pages in it's base to great effect. What catches your eye, friends?